In Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Charlie is a poor boy with big dreams. Although his dreams come true in the end, finding the golden ticket inside a Wonka Bar was no easy feat for him. In today’s world of social media, however, contests like the one Charlie won have become a little easier.

In the game of Jenga, players have to be nimble in order to keep the wooden tower from collapsing. In a beverage warehouse, forklift operators must possess this same quality for a more serious purpose — transporting product without causing damage. And just like Jenga, in the game of material handling, every move counts.

Although more consumers are doing their best to trade sugary beverages for healthier options, one thing they’re not willing to sacrifice is taste, says Bob Yates, president and chief executive officer for Pulse Beverage Corp., Denver.

As Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Living Essentials LLC’s 5 Hour Energy brand suggests in its advertising, “that 2:30 feeling” can be difficult for many consumers to overcome. In fact, that mid-afternoon slump, or “post-lunch dip,” is a natural part of humans’ internal clock, which creates the urge to sleep approximately seven hours after waking, according to a 2007 New York Times article.

Events

Learn how the craft beer segment is helping the overall U.S. beer market, how craft brewers are embracing growth opportunities, what innovations brand owners are doing to entice consumers and new on-premise alcoholic beverage sales tracking

Attendees will learn about functional beverage innovations, trends, and consumer purchase drivers, what Millennials expect from healthy beverage products and how to make and keep your brand relevant and sensory challenges in functional beverages and flavor/odor masking solutions to meet consumer expectations for great taste